thought I’d post a quick photo “from the road” before I return to chongqing in a couple days I was walking through a street market in haikou, the capital city of hainan province (an island located in the south china … Continue reading →

Great news, folks: jetlag from this return-trip from Asia is going quite a bit better than my previous two go-rounds! Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way… As mentioned in my last post, my decision to spend four … Continue reading →

First and foremost, thanks for all the love and support the past few days. This week has been absolutely terrible, but I feel grateful to have such loving friends and family. Also, I want to clarify that medically, I will … Continue reading →

Who will be the next Bill Gates?  Is there anyone in China who might change the world in a similar fashion?  According to Ai Weiwei (writing for WIRED magazine), the man with the biggest chance of changing the world in 2012 … Continue reading →

can’t find my baby. But, vacation was absolutely amazing. In fact, without exaggerating, it was probably the best vacation ever. I am just getting settled back in to life in Tongren and when I have a little more time, I’ll get you up to speed on all the action!

There was a small old house, which just included one bed, one table, one iron pot, and two chairs. My grandma and grandpa had a daughter, when they were [both] 20 [years old]. After one year, they had another baby, unluckily for them [it was another] daughter. They wanted a son, by virtue of the [...]

So, before I start uploading the blogs from this first semester, I wanted to drop a line to everyone back home to let you know that PC China is getting some sweet press.

Months ago, a film crew visited volunteers in Guizhou province and filmed shorts about the life and work of volunteers in China as a part of the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps.

The Country Director informed us today that the videos shot here in China are going to be shown on the TODAY show early next week. She said they are supposed to air on Tuesday, 7 February. I don't know how much you enjoy morning talk shows, but if you're interested in seeing a bit of what life is like for a China volunteer, you should check it out. Unfortunately, I do not live in Guizhou, so I won't be in any of their videos (they missed an opportunity on that one), but a couple of my dear friends will be.

I officially have a VPN on my laptop.

And it's working. I'm currently using it.

My dear friend Matt set it up for me. He's the greatest.

I am currently in Chengdu. Tomorrow begins IST, the final portion of Peace Corps training. It will last for two weeks. Tonight, to celebrate my arrival (and surviving the twenty-two hour train ride on a hard seat), I went and got my favourite Chengdu meal.

I wish I could say it is something unique to Chengdu, or even Sichuan for that matter, but it's not. There is a Uyghur restaurant not too far from where I'm staying. I go there and order dingding choumien and naan. Dingding choumien are special noodles, chopped up and cooked up with stir-fried meat, potatoes, peppers, onions, tomatoes in a spicy meat stock. I eat it in Lanzhou sometimes as well, but this restaurant in Chengdu is the tastiest. The coup de grâce of this meal is the Dr. Pepper I bought from the international foods store down the street (a luxury I'm not privy to in Lanzhou).

So, there you have it... My first blog with a VPN. From here, the question remains: what would be the best way for me to go about publishing all of my old blogs I have written?

I have been medically separated from Peace Corps. That means that effective someone this coming week, I am no longer a volunteer and no longer live in China. I am heartbroken, angry, and exhausted. This was not a decision I … Continue reading →

Well, we made it back safe and sound in Ya’an after a fantastic visit with family and friends back home. It was so hard to keep our visit a secret, but so worth it to experience everyone’s reactions. And Texas … Continue reading →

More to think about next time you want to buy something from Apple. From the Times: “. . .  the workers assembling iPhones, iPads and other devices often labor in harsh conditions, according to employees inside those plants, worker advocates … Continue reading →

I left my college when it was still full of students with only one week left of finals.  I returned to a campus where the only people living here are the workers, the people who sweep the grounds, the handy man who fixes anything in a flat, the cafeteria workers, the fruit family.  I wonder why they didn't go home for Spring Festival.

Chengdu, a city of millions, feels like a ghost town.  It is pretty incredible how empty this place is; although, Auchuan was packed.  When I went out to buy food I had to go to Auchuan, a French superstore, because everything around my campus was closed.  That place was packed and I had to wait in a long line for 20 minutes to buy a head of cabbage and meatballs.  I wanted to buy a bunch of dark green leafy veggies but they were super expensive!!!  5 RMB per jin when in Gansu they cost like 0.8 RMB per jin.  I haven't really cooked yet in Chengdu, but after all the wonderful home-cooked meals I have had over the past few weeks, I think buying from the neighborhood farmer's market and cooking would be nice.  I bet when school starts I won't be cooking anymore though.

Next semester I will be teaching writing and oral English on two campuses.  What a nutty commuting schedule I will have again!  Bleh!

I have started applying for jobs.  Is it suppose to take a person hours to write a cover letter?  I think I am too detail oriented somehow trying to match my skills with the job description.  Anyways, if you hear of any openings, let me know. 

Here is my career objective:

Utilize my international experience in West Africa and China along with my science and teaching background to work in a multi-cultural environment to support international education and/or development programs through a capacity in administration, program development, evaluation and training.

Any constructive criticism?

Book Trailer: The Yeti Quotient

When humanitarian scientists Maggie James and Jangbu Tong develop the fountain of youth by slightly altering and augmenting a plant growing naturally in northeast Nepal, it's a win-win - or is it? As news of the miracle plant is leaked by an enthusiastic Peace Corps volunteer, envy, greed, and power take over by way of a merchant herbalist, politicians, bankers, and their lobbyists. As these interests collide, the United States and China are pitted against each other, and both must face Nepali Gurkhas, provoking an international incident that will decide whether a health miracle will be available to all - or sold for record profits... From: apexreviews Views: 0 0 ratings Time: 01:00 More in Entertainment

Book Trailer: The Yeti Quotient

When humanitarian scientists Maggie James and Jangbu Tong develop the fountain of youth by slightly altering and augmenting a plant growing naturally in northeast Nepal, it's a win-win - or is it? As news of the miracle plant is leaked by an enthusiastic Peace Corps volunteer, envy, greed, and power take over by way of a merchant herbalist, politicians, bankers, and their lobbyists. As these interests collide, the United States and China are pitted against each other, and both must face Nepali Gurkhas, provoking an international incident that will decide whether a health miracle will be available to all - or sold for record profits... From: GWExtra Views: 0 0 ratings Time: 01:00 More in Entertainment

1.  Loner 

I struggle!

a conflict between

my desire

for solitude

and

the known

health benefits

of being social

and having friends

For when I spend

too many hours

in happy isolation

my thoughts

betray me

drowning into

worry and anxiety

but

when I am

surrounded all day

by people whose

language I only

understand 5% of

my heart is somehow

at peace

even as I sit

here writing

alone in bed

before lights out.

2.  Spring Festival

In a deserted countryside

factory town

where rain keeps

the fish ponds full,

the banana groves green,

and puddles expanding in the streets,

I spend my time in a row

of cold concrete rooms

each with a door opening into the rain,

a row of sheds next to

a cardboard box factory

empty of workers

on holiday.

A business family

follows their youngest son

who before completing high school

ran from Gansu to the

province of opportunity

A 50 year old father

with dreams of giving

his son

a rich future

lives with

the bare necessities of life

devoid of luxury,

lives in their factory.

In Chengdu,

visiting the home

of a newly married 27 year old teacher

in a newly bought flat

filled with

huge flat screen TVs,

Ikea furniture mixed with

lavish fairytale castle extravagance

a lush show of money

economic prosperity,

it is easy to forget that not

everyone lives that way.

Even a factory owner in the

rumored golden land of Guangzhou

owns only

an old beat up used car,

a tiny TV,

lives in one room with his whole family

a cold concrete floor

devoid of privacy

with a queen sized bed for the parents

and bunks for his son and daughter.

This one room opens into a warehouse

filled with stacks of metal racks

burner grates for gas stoves.

These small factories

are dying becoming

obsolete

replaced by

newer, bigger, hi-tech monsters.

Families visit each other

drinking tea and eating seeds

of all colors

white, green, black, brown.

Mothers prepare at least 3-5 banquets

to feed 10-20 guests at each sitting.

The dishes are meat heavy.

The prosperity of China

is heard with the laughter

mingled with the clacking of Mahjong and chess

pop, pop, pop

attacks of red dynamite

bursting into sporadic explosions.

The prosperity of China

is measured by the

duly noted amount of leftovers

just enough to reveal that the food

was delicious but also too much.

TV is ignored.

Past grievances are put aside for

harmony's sake.

Gifts are given.

Baijiu is drank.

Troubles are forgotten

for at least a few days.

Zhong Shan 1 hour outside of Guangzhou- January 23, 2012

1.  Mad 

Mad I was to have someone ask me

to change from an aisle to a window

so two people could sit together,

but actually

Mad I was to be leaving Paris,

but more truthfully

More Mad I was to be returning to China

2.  Flight

China Southern tried to copy

Air France's menu

but did a terrible job

except for

the wedge of Camembert

that no one wanted to eat

so I could to my heart's content-

3 wedges happier

The PG movies were old news

mostly for teenagers, kids, and romantics

The hum of the plane was painful

right behind the eye.

Miserable bumpy trip of

dehydration

under

artificial light

that was happily

over quick

coz no matter

how terrible

a 12 hr plane ride is,

it is a million times

better

than a bus.

Then China

welcomed me

with nasty toilets

stopped up with wads of TP

and spittle on the floor and seat

What a jarring wake-up

call not to be in Paris anymore

At least customs were efficient

compared to

baggage claim

of flights from

Vietnam, Paris, L.A.

all at turntable 1

jammed pack with

empty luggage trolleys

not even an inch of space

available for a step near

the edge to drag a bag off.

But after 30 minutes

when my pack finally appeared

the crowd had thinned down.

A poor tiny woman got whacked

when the fast spinning rotation

took my bag from me.

Guangzhou felt deserted

in the aftermath

of the migration to

hometowns for

Spring Festival-

the incredibly super fast high tech metro

near empty at 7 am,

the bus too

The campus devoid

of students

except for the few

stragglers of odd women

nonconforming to the

majority,

labeled weird

for preferring to celebrate

the biggest Chinese holiday

alone

rather than with family.

3.  Food

In Paris, I tried to go to

a Vietnamese restaurant

but twice

it was closed

maybe for the

New Year Festival.

In Guangzhou

found plenty of

Vietnamese

rice noodles

fish sauce

veggie rolls

and even

evening dim sum

set up outside like

Chengdu BBQ

right next door

to my hotel

in the countryside

of the foothill

of Baiyuan Mountain.

4.  A Gansu Student

It is lovely

to meet up with a former student

who graduated into graduate school

to see her evolution from uninformed

to eyes wide open

University professors

pushing the box of

conformist thinking

to forming well-researched opinions

about

the Community Party

the development of China

the economic state of a developing country

the pros and cons of the residential card

5.  Volunteerism

Chinese students at uni

join volunteer clubs where they

clean up the campus

visit the elderly

help with the aftermath of earthquakes

visit orphanages

donate blood

raise money

The Confucius Institutes that

are being formed

to share Chinese culture and language

is another way Chinese citizens volunteer.

Volunteerism is alive in China,

but for the older generation

where security and salary

are a priority

volunteering is not understood.

January 19-20, 2012

When I was born in a small town, I lived with my [grandparents] for my parents were busy with their own work and business. Therefore, I had no other choice but to stay with my older parents. Of course, I was too little to have the right to choose. With the passage of time, I [...]

Paris was absolutely wonderful.  There were streets to explore; parks to sit in; shop windows to browse; museums to visit; films to see; and English bookstores to spend money in.  I loved the metro and the bikeable, walkable city.  I even liked the late night 8-9 pm dinners which gave a person more hours in a day to enjoy life.

Paris has tempted me back to the west.  All the things I cringe about that exist in the USA- car culture, fast food, television, the security of the American dream- were forgotten.  Only the lovely things that I miss while living abroad in Africa or China existed while I was on holiday.  Yes, I know the honeymoon phase of a vacation, in no way predicts the reality of the future, but at least I caught a bit of the western spirit making me ready to finally leave China.

A quick check-in: I’m having a great time in Bangkok, and medically everything is working out fine. I get to experience world class healthcare and then eat amazing and diverse food with volunteers from Mongolia to Kyrgyzstan. Bangkok is very much … Continue reading →

It doesn’t take a scholar in translation studies to know the frustrations of translation. If you’ve studied a language for even the shortest amount of time, you know the culprits that often make the exercise especially difficult: syntax, conjugations, pronouns, tenses, spelling, etc. And that’s after you’ve learned a slew of new words. For European languages, [...]

I just got back from eating at a small hole-in-the wall for lunch. When I walked in, ordered and sat down, a family nearby chowing on their meals started doing the whole waiguoren exclamations and began talking about me. As I waited for my food, I listened in- and as usual, the conversation veered onto a whole discourse on everything foreign (read: western). Then, just as predictable, they began talking about how China was "exceptional" and "the most cultured civilization on earth".

Every time I hear this, I chuckle, because it's the same ignorant rhetoric I hear from pundits and uneducated/ populist politicians in the U.S., and from people of other places I've lived and traveled to around the world.

My beef with the word "exceptional" (in any language) is that it has a wide range of meaning. It could mean that a country is "different", it could mean that it is "better" than other countries, or anything in between.

There is no doubt there are differences between countries, cultures and societies, but I roll my eyes whenever I hear somebody who is convinced that their culture or civilization is better than all others in absolute terms. Of course I think it's fine to talk about the superiority of government or economic systems, but something like culture is relative and usually isn't criticized in intellectual terms by most people.

While I think my country, the U.S.A., is pretty awesome, I don't go around self-confidently believing its culture is better than others. I can say it's different from others, but I think it's ignorant to say our culture is better than other cultures and then finish it there.

In my opinion, American culture and society is the best in the world for Americans, and I firmly believe it's still one of the best countries in the world where someone of any background could realize their potential and have a say in politics, among other things.

But that doesn't mean other societies aren't "good"- they have things to be proud of as well, though- their differences. The Chinese and their long history and deep culture, the Japanese for their safe and healthy society, the Thai for their relaxed attitudes and laid-back lifestyles.

Yet in every county I have been, the locals have some beef with their neighbors and look down upon them for reasons an outsider would think is ridiculous (whether warranted or not).

Culturally, the Albnaians and the Bosniaks look down on the Serbs, the Cambodians looks down on the Vietnamese, the Chinese and the Japanese look down on each other, the Egyptians look down on the Israelis, the Indians look down on the Pakistanis, and just about everybody looks down on us Americans.

There are many things I have heard while abroad that make me roll my eyes:

- My adult students in Japan used to always talk about how Japan was exceptional and the most cultured country in the world, especially when we talked about America and American culture ("Americans are very fat, eat hamburgers for every meal and all own guns because the streets are crime-ridden").

- Many Chinese here often talk about how they have 5,000 years of history and exceptional in the world because of it. In just one of many instances, a group of other volunteers and I taught a course for about 150 Chinese teachers on western education methodology. On the first day, the head of the local education bureau gave a speech to everyone, and in it, said something like "although we have these foreigners here to teach us, we are a special civilization..." Much of what is said when comparing China to western countries here comes from an intense nationalism that stems from years of humiliation by the west and an acute insecurity about their own country that comes with it. You will always hear older men talking not only about how China is good for the Chinese, but also how they are exceptional and the best country in the world.

(Kind of off but still interesting):

- Once I was stunned to hear a pre-schooler in Japan of 5 years old tell me that she "doesn't like Chinese people very much." I hear the Japanese talking down about the Chinese all the time.

- When I first came to China I was stunned to hear one of my students tell me that he "doesn't like Japanese people very much." I hear Chinese talking down about the Japanese all the time.

- I had a conversation with a taxi driver in Bangkok, Thailand once when he asked me if everyone in my country can speak Thai. I chuckled and said "not quite". When you have never been outside of your own society, your society is in effect the world to you. This man had never left Thailand and thus had an inflated view about Thailand and its standing in the world.

I could go on for hours on things I've heard from people all over this world talk about how their culture is "exceptional". I'm sure I will hear more. And every time, I will just roll my eyes.

There’s a Buddhist temple at the top of a mountain called Tiantong Temple. In this temple, there [are] more than 100 monks. A boy named Yuan was sent to this temple when he was 5 [years old]. When he was 8 years old, he started to learn to chant sutras [and to] pay respect for [...]

I am a horrible blogger, yet another month has passed without an update, for that I apologize. December ended up being pretty crazy, and it finally slowed to a screeching halt this week. December/ early January went as follows:

School events: we went for lunch for my birthday and got an hour long massage. It was amazing except for the moment where I realized massage lady had basically removed my shirt and my (male) waiban director was in the room with us. Made note to self: learn how to say awwwkwwwaard in Chinese. Watched one of the end of the year student variety shows. It was hysterical. Luckily, was not asked to sing. give a speech or act like a dancing monkey in any way- my school rules.

Classes: classes wrapped up the year with Christmas parties and review for the final exams. I learned that my students are incredibly competitive when it comes to musical chairs and jeopardy. I will exploit this in future classes. Exams.. that's a different story. All of my classes had 5-8 minute oral interviews. They all had different questions (and yes that was a stupid decision on my part, pretty much how to ruin your weekend 101: creating over 200 different questions so your students can't cheat). Some of my students absolutely rocked their exams, I couldn't have been prouder. Others...not so much. I wasn't too fussed because I designed the syllabus that their final exam was only worth 15%. That was, until my counter part told me as I was creating their final grades that for half of my classes, their exam was supposed to be worth 50%. I flipped out, and explained that if that was the case a lot of students were about to fail the class. She asked if I could fib their final results and add in some participation points to boost their grades. I not so kindly replied that's what I'm doing by making it worth 15%. Lucky for me, she is awesome and has my back, so she went to the dean of the English department and got her to talk to the dean of my classes (who are not in the English department), who agreed that they would trust my judgement and just accept the final grades.

What I'm doing now: well, last week was my last week of exams/ handing in final grades. I finished everything Thursday morning.. Friday I went to visit LT, one of my closest friends here, who sadly is ET'ing. I respect her courage to realize that this was not working out for her, and to pursue a different path in life. I'm glad I got to spend this weekend with her, even if it did entail 6 hours of KTV (which was by no means her fault). We got to relax, hang out, talk about what she wants to do post-PC China, and go to a wedding Sunday morning. You know, the typical PC weekend. :) Hopefully I will get to see her this summer if I travel back home.

Yesterday (Monday) really started my winter holiday. All of my friends in China are travelling at the moment to fabulous places: Hong Kong, Bali, Thailand, Malaysia, etc. I, on the other hand, am stuck in Chongqing. I was supposed to travel after IST, but that has fallen though. IST (or in- service training) goes from jan, 31- feb. 10, there all of the 17's and quite a few of the 16's will have language, tefl, cultural, security and secondary project training. I'm actually one of the organizers of IST, so the next week or so I'll be putting the finishing touches on sessions. In the meanwhile, I am stuck at my ghost campus. Why is it a ghost campus? Well, last Friday everyone left. Literally, there are 2 of us (minus the security staff) here. All of the 4 restaurants/ shops next to our campus are closed. Luckily the shao kao (grilled street food) vendors still open up so if I don't feel like cooking I can wander over there for a cheap dinner. When you join the Peace Corps you are asked how you can deal with the isolation and loneliness for weeks on end, and in my interview I replied well, I would work to integrate myself in my community. The problem here is my campus was my community. And now my community is gone. The school is literally at the end of the road, it's a 20 minute bus ride to any form of civilization, and most things are closed due to the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year).There are advantages, like I was able to run/ walk on the track for an hour without anyone screaming HAAALLLOOOO at me. No line at the shao kao or ATM. Simultaneously, it feels like I'm in some sort of post apocalyptic work where everyone is dead, and it's just me with the Japanese exchange student left to fend off the zombies. My hope is that during the next month I'll be able to catch up on paperwork, work out, fill out grad school applications and practice my Chinese. Who knows, I may even become best friends with the shao kao lady, she looks like she can definitely fight off the zombie hordes.

Workers at the Foxconn factory might be getting abused as they make iPhones, but China’s elite care just as little as we do.  Read here about riots that broke out during sales of the iPhone 4s.  To make a long … Continue reading →

So I just inherited a rabbit and am actively trying to get rid of it. I have a buddy visiting me now, and last night we came up with a list of possibilities over a few drinks. All options are on the table and are being considered seriously. This list is not exhaustive; please feel free to add any suggestions at the bottom of the blog in the comments area. What you are about to read might sound incredibly cruel if you are an animal lover. I, on the other hand, frankly don't care about what happens to it, and nothing in our list is considered taboo here in rural China anyway.

WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE RABBIT.

LIVE

-Try to contact some students and see if any them would like a cute white rabbit for a pet. Not likely though as keeping animals as pets here is rare and I don't know any students that are around.

-Let it go outside. Downside: will probably die a miserable death in the harsh desert cold or be attacked and eaten by the rabid cats that roam the area.

-Take it to the local pet market and give it to a pet vendor. Downside: will be put in a tiny cage in unsanitary outdoor pet market conditions; nobody will want an already-grown rabbit. Also vendors will be absolutely stunned to see a foreigner walking around trying to give away a rabbit unsolicited. Nobody does that.

DIE

-Let it go outside to be "free" (see above).

-Kill it.

-Kill it ourselves and eat it (this is a very likely option). I've eaten rabbit here on many occasions as it's a winter food in this region of China. My buddy knows how to kill and gut rabbit (through experience), and I know how to cook it.

-Take it to the lady I buy live chickens from and have her kill it, gut it, and chop it up for us. Same as previous option but less messy for us.

As you can see, the odds are against this rabbit.

Me adopting it is out of the question.

Many of you probably heard last week’s This American Life about the Foxconn factory (where most of our Apple products are made, inlcuding iphones, ipads, etc.).  For those who haven’t, please listen; it’s a chilling story. The factory is in Shenzhen, a city accurately described in … Continue reading →

As a PCV going to the west for home leave is always a treat for the food; although, due to the sparsity of food in Africa home leave from there was much more exciting than from China.  Chinese food is just more plentiful in nutrition, veggies, and lovely spices and flavors.  Home leave in Paris?  My mouth hasn't left food heaven in days and I am never hungry!!!  With the heaviness of big chunks of meat and milk products, I probably only need one meal a day, but it seems like three meals a day is pretty important here in Paris even though breakfast is simple and dinner starts at 8 pm or later.  I was afraid that I would be starving by that late hour.  That was until I realized how filling lunch would be.

One observation I have had whether you are eating at home just with family and invited guests or eating out at a restaurant, there is always a special procedure to the meal.  At home in America at least in my family we just put everything on the table and chow down.  Here as the meat is finishing its last 10 minutes of oven time, we start with an aperitif of sausage or some meat spread with a knife on bread or radishes or baby tomatoes.  Then there could be a salad which could come after the main course.  Next there is a meat entree with a vegetable side.  Last items are a cheese plate, then dessert, then maybe an after dinner digestif and coffee.  There is so much food that after every meal I feel like I will never be able to eat again.

What have I been eating?

Home cooked meals with Mathilde's family

Pâtes aux Cèpes (Mushroom pasta)Shrimp and zucchini wok and a Galette des RoisBeef roast with green beans

Chicken with morilles mushrooms then tiramisu Lamb and potatoesRestaurants/Out and about

Falafel in the back streets near Rue de Rosiers and the Metro station Pont Marie

Mint tea at la grande mosqueBeef steak and fries with garlic mayo at L'Ecurie in the Latin Quarter around the corner from Le Panthéon A bakery cheese and ham sandwich eaten in the Luxembourg ParkCuban tapas, fish, and spinach at Calle 24African peanut sauce, and plantains at L'EquateurCocktails, scallops, and food on a stick amongst the actors at a TV series premiere, "Les Hommes de l'Ombre"

If you are ever in Paris definitely check out L'Ecurie for its lunch plate and the unique ambiance of a VERY old tiny restaurant.

My first semester here has ended. Basically, since my final class, I've been sitting around, studying, catching up on some Blazers and, more importantly, helping to plan for my winter trip which starts in just two days. It's about time, because winter in Wanzhou is monotonous, lonely and slowly killing my spirits. Time for a vacation.

Who am I traveling with?

The Chill, the Energy and the Comic Relief.

The Chill (far left) also goes by Brendon. The Energy (second to the right) is also known as Sandor. And the Comic Relief (far right) is named Zach. Together we are four, aptly named The Sons of Thunder by the Comic Relief. These are probably three of the most adventurous guys I've ever met, so I have high expectations for this trip

Where are we going?

South. We're leaving from three different provinces (municipality in my case, to be specific) and meeting in Chengdu, Sichuan. From there we will travel into Malaysia and up through Thailand. I think we've done some nice planning to avoid staying too long in crowded, touristy beaches.

My destinations will be in this order:

A) Wanzhou, Chongqing, China (January 13)

B) Chengdu, Sichuan, China

C) Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

D) Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

E) Langkawi Kedah, Malaysia

F) Ko Lipe, Thailand

G) Ko Muk Kantang, Trang, Thailand

H) Ao Nang, Krabi, Thailand

I) Khao Sok National Park, Thailand

J) Bangkok, Thailand

B) Chengdu, Sichuan, China

A) Wanzhou, Chongqing, China (February 11)

What are you missing during the trip?

Not too much, actually. It's the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival, 春节), but for a foreigner that mostly means huge traveling crowds and closed restaurants and stores. Everyone is with their family, and it's something I would live to experience but not this semester. Right now I want some sunshine, hiking, rock climbing, swimming, relaxing. Some Malaysia. Some Thailand.

And afterwards?

Well, after Bangkok we head back to Chengdu the day before In-Service Training, which will last about two weeks. After training I have roughly two more weeks until the spring semester starts.

So that's where I'll be for the next month. I'm not sure whether or not I'll have my computer with me, but I'll have plenty of pictures and stories to tell when I return.

If I don't come back from this trip a little scraped-up and bruised, then I'll have to wonder what went wrong.

[Tibetan dance] We will soon be welcoming in the Year of the Dragon. In Eastern philosophy, the Dragon, a divine beast, is said to be a deliverer of good fortune and a master of authority.  Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, begins on January 23, so we are now in the time between the solar and [...]

Yes, yes, I know- It’s been a while. But have no fear, an update is here(in 500 words or less): Thanksgiving 2011: Thankful for many things including (but not limited to): Jesus, family, Peace Corps, friends, China, humility, grace, music, tradition, food, skype. Thanks was given to these things on that faithful day in November but [...]

Paris is fantastique!

I am having an amazing experience- the cheese, the bread, the chunks of meat, the life of drinking mint tea and connecting with friends amongst architecture dating to the 1600's-1900's where mini elevators have been added and bay windows open onto tiny balconies from which the Eiffel Tower can be spotted and quaint narrow Parisian streets with people scurrying from here to there in their dark clothes can be seen down below.  Bakeries are on every corner and people even sit at outdoor cafes in the middle of winter.  The Metro gets you everywhere.  The lines outside of museums are long but move fast.  We visited a free exhibit by the artist Sempe who is known for his Paris scenes and covers for the "New Yorker."  Theaters are super warm where I had to strip down to my last layer to see A Dangerous Method by Cronenberg.  Walks in parks and streets are full of wonderous sights from the river, trees, and statues to the shops, towers, domes, gargoyles and columns,   Supper is served late and dinner parties start at 8 pm and go until midnight.  What is this lifestyle of rich pleasure?  Is it for me? 

Students often ask me whether or not I like China.

"Most things about it, yeah," I say.

"What you don't like?"

I guess there are a few things. The street nearest to the old campus is louder than any part of Manhattan I can remember, and it's really no different from any other street in Wanzhou. People spit everywhere. People stare. People yell.

Most of that doesn't really bother me though. Either I'm used to it or I participate. Chinese people think I'm interesting to look at. Well, guess what, they're interesting for me to look at, too. And since people yell, "HALLO" at me quite often, I have instinctively taught myself to respond with こんにちは. I really enjoy when they actually know what "hello" in Japanese sounds like, but for the most part they probably just think they misunderstood my English.

Usually I tell my students the same thing: the pollution.

"You're over-polluting, China," I usually think to myself as I walk to the bus atop the small mountain where the new campus is located. You can see far from up there. Or, I mean, you would be able to see far from up there, if there were no pollution.

The last clear day in Wanzhou was November 7. I know because I was so amazed at how far I could see that I went on a long walk to take some pictures of how––for once––beautiful the city looked.

Not a single day since then has been half as nice. I took a picture the following day when the pollution returned. My plan was to post two pictures. One with pollution, one without. I have the day with pollution. I've had it for two months. But the clear day hasn't returned, and judging by the dirt-coated leaves, it's going to be a while. All I have to show for my plan is one picture of pollution and some blackening lungs in a tightening chest.

I haven't seen the sun for two months. I'm used to that feeling, but I wish I weren't. That's how it is in Wanzhou, but not all the cities are the same. I have a friend in the north that sees the sun almost every day, but he's probably lost feeling in all of his limbs from the cold.

In my mind I unrelentingly blamed China for not enacting laws and taking measures to solve such an obvious environmental issue, for over-polluting and endangering their world and mine.

How could they be so careless?

This is a comic made by Chinese cartoonist Fan Jianping (范建平), which I found at the Chinese Media Project.

The Chinese Media Project labels the man in the chair an American. I suppose he is intended to be American. But I don't think this portrayal is or should be limited to my nationality alone.

What he's saying is simple: "You're polluting too much."

When I departed for China, I was ready to give up everything…everything EXCEPT my hair.  By then I had moved to Springfield, cut off my locs, and started growing my hair out again.  After going to a barber to get … Continue reading →

Teaching in China has been a terrific experience.  I have heard other foreign teachers say that China is a teacher’s heaven.  At first I snickered at these comments but I understand it now.  The students here in China are lovely.  … Continue reading →

I am now on my fourth month in China. This seems like a short amount of time but because I am completely immersed in Chinese culture, language and society, four months is enough time for me to feel like a … Continue reading →

October has already been a month to remember.  On the 1st we celebrated Emma’s 23rdbirthday as well as the Chinese National Day during which we have had no school.  Most of my students took the opportunity to return home for the week while Emma and I played host to a few friends who came down [...]

This last weekend Emma and I made the trip up to the provincial capital where the Peace Corps 17s had been invited to a welcome party by the 16s.  For us, the trip was about six hours and other volunteers came in from all over the province.  It was amazing to see many of our [...]

Our internet went out again.  As I write this, I am sitting in a tea shop called Tang Kou or “Sweet Tea Time”.  The shop is a small place tucked away in an alleyway close to the school where I work.  The owner is a young woman whose English name is Jasmine.  She is very [...]

Such a great question! I wonder if many retired or veteran teachers already know the answer. Every time I learn a little more about being a teacher here in China, it reminds me of the stories I heard about what school was like when my parents were growing up. In my county, the students stay [...]

Anyone who has travelled to what is considered to be a developing/under-developed/undeveloped country probably has a story to tell about the toilets.  It is a dirty subject that most people do not want to talk about unless they have used … Continue reading →

Brightly dressed middle school students at their desks. Look at these smiling faces! This is a typical classroom for the part of the country I live in. Students are assigned 70 to 110 students per class. The students stay in the same room all day, and their respective teachers come and go. Many of their subjects [...]

I’m not sure what my life in Zhangye will be like but I accept that I can’t figure that out now.  After four days I was feeling slightly depressed and realized that I am three weeks from moving to a … Continue reading →

Thanks for clicking on my blog. I promised many of you this blog ages ago, and my best friend Lillie (teacher travel blogger extraordinaire) is kindly guiding me through the technological pitfalls of starting one. It’s been easier to learn to type Chinese than start this blog. No really, watch this…. nin hao yunyang?  您好云阳？(Pretty cool, eh?) [...]

Yesterday was the day many of us had been waiting for.  Eighty trainees gathered in a hotel conference room waiting for the Peace Corps staff to announce our assignments and our sites.  It would be the answer to the question: … Continue reading →

I am super excited to be able to write this blog entry! My computer has been on the fritz.  By “the fritz” I mean it would NOT power on.  I did all the usual tricks – plug it in, press … Continue reading →

I am an alien.  See that paper over there? It announces my current status as an alien in China.  I am not a citizen here.  I am allowed to be here because I have successfully passed medical examinations and my … Continue reading →

All you fellow travelers out there can testify that one of the most important aspects of any journey is food.  Can I get an amen?….. It doesn’t matter if you are a foodie more than willing to try any delectable … Continue reading →

I am writing this entry from an airplane.  I am officially in the air and heading to China.  This involves a thirteen-hour flight to Beijing, a four-hour layover in Beijing and then a two-hour flight to Chengdu.  As Peace Corps … Continue reading →